Fluid delivery control and registration system

ABSTRACT

A twelve pump fuel delivery control and registration system for controlling self-service operation of each fuel pump and for selectively registering the volume and cost amounts of each fuel delivery for charging the self-service customers. The system is also selectively operable for registering the total cost and volume amounts of three available grades of fuel delivered by the 12 pumps.

United States Patent [191 Brunone Apr. 15, 1975 FLUID DELIVERY CONTROLAND REGISTRATION SYSTEM [75] Inventor:

[73] Assignee: Veeder Industries, Inc., Hartford,

Conn.

[22] Filed: Sept. 12, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 396,486

Peter P. Brunone, Vernon, Conn.

[52] U.S. Cl 235/l5l.34; 222/26; 235/92 FL [51] Int. Cl. G06f 15/56 [58]Field of Search 235/151.34, 92 FL; 222/23,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,437,240 4/1969 Keeler222/25 3,498,501 3/1970 Robbins et al.... 222/26 3,510,630 5/1970 Ryanet a1 222/26 X 3,580,42l 5/1971 Bickford 235/92 FL X INTERCONNECTCIRCUIT 3,666,928 5/1972 Burke et al. 235/92 FL 3,696,236 10/1972 Kus235/l5l.34 3,751,642 8/1973 Todd et al. 235/151.34 3,756,463 9/1973Gravina 222/26 3,756,630 9/1973 Bickford 235/15l.34

Primary Examiner-Felix D. Gruber Assistant Examiner-Jerry SmithAttorney, Agent, or FirmPrutzman, Hayes, Kalb & Chilton [57] ABSTRACT Atwelve pump fuel delivery control and registration system forcontrolling self-service operation of each fuel pump and for selectivelyregistering the volume and cost amounts of each fuel delivery forcharging the self-service customers. The system is also selectivelyoperable for registering the total cost and volume amounts of threeavailable grades of fuel delivered by the 12 pumps.

12 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PUMP SELECTOR MEMORY MEMORY MEMORYPTJENTEBAPRISIQYS 3,878,377

SHEET 2 BF 4 F/G./B TO COMPUTER Mk TO DISPLAY REGISTER IPUMP F N B U 1IIA EF E 8TE E I D -l I I & ITP-O P TIMING 3 DIGIT PUMP BE lMHZ PULSESELECTOR SELECTOR 1 OF 12 M5 CLOCK RING RING RING DECODER g CGUNTERI LCOUNTER D-6 COUNTER i LQ, M EMoRY :1 RESET J j//- ADDRESS 3 PRESETTABLEGRADE SELECTOR MEMORY I 4 i GRADE A V? ADDRESS PUMP 1 T SELECTOR MGRADEB GRADE SELECT 7 ToTALIzER PUMP A GRADE C ADDRESS 7 DISPLAY MEMORY A] if5 MEMAJ SELECT J IQFFEQ SELECT MEMORY B f 5 g/EEACBf EEET "SCANN II LIBC ILEL I 'TOTALIZER I i HPUT I ToTAELIzER CL AR //Z I II: 2% T L Z iPULSE L I L CANNER i I :l2 DIGIT P-I2; MEM RY I la I I 1i 2% I M7 IAMEMORY ---1 I MEM INPUT I 5 CLEAR l I SCANNER I L 5 P42: I P-l 15 3?? IMEMA i I g CLEA R I MEM 7 SELECT 1% f SCANNER i I B MEMOR I 1 5m mm 151% 3,878,377

sum 1 of g m. /0 Pl E'- F 91 i11 TOTALIZER DISPLAY VOL. SELECTCOST/VOLUME VOLUME COMPUTER\ SELECTOR r Q1 COST VO FROM DIGIT RINGCOUNTER DAT L! COMPARATOR FROM lMHZ CLOCK M4 5% 9 9 GRCADE GRBADE 4 8 .9

GRADE A FLUID DELIVERY CONTROL AND REGISTRATION SYSTEM BRIEF SUMMARY OFTHE INVENTION The present invention relates to a fluid delivery controland registration system having notable utility for individuallycontrolling and registering the fuel deliver ies at a plurality of fuelpumps.

It is a primary aim of the present invention to provide a new andimproved fuel delivery control and registration system which permits asingle console operator to control the self-service deliveries of fuelfrom each of a plurality of fuel pumps and for selectively registeringthe cost and/or volume amounts of each fuel delivery for charging theself-service customers for the fuel deliveries.

It is another aim of the present invention to provide a new and improvedfuel delivery control and registration system useful with conventionalfuel delivery pumps.

It is a further aim of the present invention to provide an new andimproved fuel delivery registration system for electronicallyaccumulating and registering the cost and/or volume amounts of each fueldelivery in accordance with the preestablished unit volume price.

It is another aim of the present invention to provide a new and improvedfuel delivery registration system which is operable for registering thefuel deliveries from a large number of fuel delivery pumps.

It is a further aim of the present invention to provide a new andimproved fuel pump delivery registration system for selectivelyregistering the cost and/or volume amounts ofa plurality of prior fluiddeliveries from each fuel pump.

It is another aim of the present invention to provide a new and improvedfuel delivery control and registration system which permits activationof each pump for a succeeding delivery prior to recording theimmediately preceding fuel delivery.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out more indetail hereinafter.

A better understanding of the invention will be obtained from thefollowing detailed description and the accompanying drawings of anillustrative application of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FlGs. 1A through 1D inclusively are collectively a diagrammatic view.partly broken away, of a fluid delivery control and registration systemincorporating an embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings indetail, a fluid deliv ery control and registration system incorporatingan embodiment of the present invention is provided for controlling andregistering the fluid deliveries from twelve generally conventional fuelpumps 10. Only one fuel pump (i.e., Pump 1) and only the correspondingpump interlock circuit 12 and the corresponding pump interconnectcircuit 14 are shown in the drawing for convenience.

The fluid delivery control and registration system comprises a pluralityof manually operable controls and a display register 16 for selectivelydisplaying the cost and volume of the fuel deliveries from the twelvepumps and the total volume and total cost of each of three grades offuel, herein designated grades A, B and c, delivered from the twelvepumps. The display register 16 and the manually operable controls arepreferably provided on a single console and the console is preferablylocated to permit a console operator to view a dispensing operation ateach of the pumps as well as to control and register each delivery. Thesystem has primary utility in providing for self-service delivery fueland such that each customer can handle his own fuel delivery afterappropriate authorization is given by the console operator and then paythe console operator for the fuel delivery.

The system comprises a timing circuit 18 for sequentially generatingindividual and binary timing signals for properly coordinating and/orsychronizing certain logic processing functions of the system. Thetiming circuit 18 comprises a l MHZ clock 20 which steps a timing pulsering counter 22 for sequentially generating timing pulses TPO through TP-8 in corresponding output leads of the timing counter 22. The TP-8timing pulse is similarly employed to step a digit ring counter 24 forsequentiaily generating digit pulses D-l through D-6 in correspondingoutput leads of the digit counter 24. And the D-6 pulse is used to stepa pump selector ring counter 26 for sequentially generating binary pumpaddress signals. A decoder 30 is operated by the binary address signalsfor sequentially generating pump pulses P-l through Pl2 in correspondingoutput leads of the decoder 30. The TP-8 timing pulse is also connectedvia a D-6 pulse controlled gate 31 for stepping a memory address counter32only five steps for each sixdigit pulse cycle of the digit counter24for sequentially addressing the memory digits of memories 34 (whichpreferably have 64-digits but which use only 60- digits in the shownembodiment) of an A memory circuit 36 and an identical B memory circuit38. A suitable reset circuit 40 is operated by the binary memory addressoutput of the memory address counter 32 to reset the counter 22, 24, 26and 32 at the completion of each 60 digit cycle of the memoryaddress-and therefore at the completion of twelve full digit cycles ofthe digit counter 24 and one full cycle of the decoder 30and tothereupon initiate a succeeding digit cycle and synchronize thecounters.

Thus, the timing circuit provides consecutive Pl through P-l2 pumppulses and a synchronized binary output signal designating the pump.During each pump pulse, six sequential digit pulses D-l through D-6 areprovided and for each digit pulse nine sequential timing pulses TP-Othrough TP-8 are provided.

A pump selector 43 comprising a line of twelve pump push buttons 44 isprovided for individually registering with the display register 16 thecost and/or volume of a fuel delivery from each pump for individuallydetermining the memory status for each pump and for individuallyclearing the pump memories. Each selector 'button 44 is connected to thecorresponding P-l through P-l2 pump lead of the decoder 30. The pumpselector push buttons 44 are mechanically interlocked so that only onepush button may be depressed at a time and such that a single P-lthrough P-l2 pulse is transmitted to a pump selector output 45 inaccordance with the push button 44 which is depressed.

A presettable grade selector 50 is provided for generating synchronizedgrade pulses in its three output leads representing the grade of eachpump. The grade selector 50 has twelve input leads connected to thetwelve P-l through P-12 pump leads and a suitable buffer diode 56between each input lead and a terminal 57. The terminals are adapted tobe selectively connected to the grade output terminals 58 for presettingthe grade selector in accordance with the grade delivered from eachpump. Although pumps 1-5 are shown connected to the grade A terminal,pumps 6-8 are connected to the grade B terminal and pumps 9-12 areconnected to grade C terminal, the connections would be made asappropriate for each of the 12 pumps.

A line of 12 pump authorization buttons 60 are provided for authorizingfuel deliveries from the 12 pumps. An authorization request button 62 isalso provided at each pump for requesting authorization of a fueldelivery. A request authorization signal from the push button 62 sets arequest authorization flip-flop 64. The flip-flop 64 in combination witha suitable flasher 66 (used for all 12 pumps) thereupon operate, viagates 68 and 70 to flash a push button lamp (not shown) at thecorresponding authorization push button on and off, and thereby signalthe console operator that a fuel delivery is requested. Thecorresponding authorization button 60 is connected, via an AND gate 72,to set an authorization flip-flop 74 and thereby provide anauthorization signal transmitted via gate 76 to authorize the deliveryof fuel from the corresponding fuel pump 10. The authorization signal isalso applied to the gate 70 to hold the push button lamp on and therebyindicate that a delivery has been authorized. The pump interlock circuit12 also employs a manual override switch 80 for maintaining thecorresponding pump active, for example for attendant made deliveries.Also, an emergency push button 82 is connected to the gate 76 fordeenergizing the pump at any time.

[n a conventional manner, the pump 10 has an operating handle 90 mountedadjacent the usual fuel delivery nozzle receptacle so that the handle 90must be placed in its vertical of of position before the delivery nozzle91 can be returned to its receptacle at the end of a fuel delivery andcannot be moved to its horizontal or on position until after the nozzle91 is removed from its storage receptacle. Upon authorization, power issupplied to a suitable electric reset 92 of the pump such that when thehandle 90 is placed in its on" or horizontal position, the electricreset 92 is energized to reset the volume and cost registers 93, 94 ofthe pump computer 96. After the registers 93, 94 are reset to zero,power is supplied to the fuel delivery pump motor 98 to condition thepump 10 for delivering fuel. A status signal is thereupon transmitted toa gate 104 to generate a memory clear signal in the memory clear leadl06-for clearing the corresponding pump memory section of theappropriate memory circuit 36, 38. The gate 104 is also connected to apulse control gate 108 for transmitting cost pulses from a pump pulsegenerator 110 via lead 112 to a pulse scanner 114 of a scanning circuit116. Accordingly, cost pulses are transmitted to the scanner 114 onlywhile the pump 10 is active for delivering fuel and pulses cannot betranstor is also reset with the cost register 94 so that the pulsetiming remains accurate.

At the completion of a delivery when the handle 90 is returned to itsvertical or off" position, or when the pump is deactivated by theemergency push button 82, a pulse is generated by a single shot to resetthe flip-flops 64 and 74 and thereby deactive the pump and turn off thepump authorization button lamp. The pulse generated by the single shot120 also operates to set a first control flip-flop 122 and, if theflip-flop 122 is already set, to set, via gate 124, a second controlflip-flop 126. The flip-flop 122 is connected via a lead 123 to apply amemory select signal to a corresponding pump input ofa memory selectscanner 125. The flip-flop 122 is also connected via a gate to a lamp Ascanner 132 to light (as here-inafter described) a lamp (not shown)associated with a memory A button 133 to indicate that the A memorysection for the corresponding pump is in use. Similarly, the flip-flop126 is connected to a lamp B scanner 134 to light (as hereinafterdescribed) a lamp (not shown) associated with a memory B button 135 andthereby indicate that the B memory section for corresponding pump is inuse. The flip-flops 122, 126 are also connected (a) via a gate to thegate 72 to prevent a succeeding authorization when both available memorysections are in use and (b) via a gate 141 and lead 142 to selectivelyenergize a lamp (not shown) associated with the corresponding pumpselector button 44 when either or both of the memory sections are inuse.

The A and B memory sections for each pump may be individually cleared(upon the commencement of the succeeding delivery with the memory clearsignal transmitted via lead 106) by simultaneously depressing theappropriate memory button 133, 135 and a clear button 143. As a result,a gate 144 is timely pulsed by the pump selector output pulse totransmit a clear pulse via a corresponding memory gate 145, 146 to the Aand B memory clear decoders 149, respectively.

The scanners 132, 134 and the decoders 149 and 150 are operated by thebinary pump address signals such that (a) the pump lamp signals fromeach pump are transmitted to operate the lamps when the correspondingpump selector button is depressed and (b) the clear pulses aretransmitted to clear the memory sections for a pump when thecorresponding pump selector button is depressed. More particularly, whena pump selector button is depressed, the memory A clear signal istransmitted to the corresponding pump interlock circuit 12 to set amemory A clear flip-flop and the memory B clear signal is transmitted toreset the second control flip-flop 126. The flip-flop 160 is connectedto gate 130 to turn off the memory A push button lamp. The first controlflip-flop 122 is not, however, reset if the pump is then active and agate 164 is connected for transmitting a reset signal for resetting thefirst control flip-flop 122 when the pump is deactivated and for alsoresetting the flip-flop 160. The delayed reset of the first controlflip-flop 122 is provided for preventing switching memory circuits byswitching the memory select signal in the lead 123 during the deliveryof fuel.

The output leads from the A and B lamp scanners 132, 134 are connectedto gates which are pulsed by the pump selector output pulse. Thus, forexample, when the pump 1 selector button 44 is depressed and a memory Alamp signal is transmitted to the scanner 132 from pump 1, a flip-flop172 is set to energize the lamp (not shown) associated with the memory Apush button 133. When the lamp signal is terminated upon the setting ofthe flip-flop 160, the pump selector output pulse is transmitted via agate 174 to reset the flipflop 172 and deenergize the memory A pushbutton lamp. An identical system is provided for energizing anddeenergizing the memory B push button lamp via the scanner 134.

The cost pulses from the active pumps are transmitted to the pulsescanner 114 by the corresponding cost pulse leads 112. Similarly, thememory clear signal for each pump is transmitted to a memory clearscanner 107 via a corresponding pump lead 106 and the memory selectsignals are transmitted via respective memory select leads 123 to amemory select scanner 125.

The scanning circuit 116 provides for sequentially transmitting the costpulses and control signals received from the pump interlock circuits 12for proper operation of the A and B memory circuits 36, 38. Also, thecost pulses are transmitted via the scanning circuit 116 for operating atotalizer circuit 190 using an eighteen-digit memory 192 (Le, six-digitsfor each of the three available fuel grades A, B and C) for accumulatingthe total cost (in dollars in the shown embodiment) of each fuel gradedelivered by all of the pumps connected for delivering that grade.

The scanning circuit 116 employs a l2-digit memory 200 (preferablyhaving l6-digits but using only l2- digits in the present embodiment)which is addressed in synchronism with the scanners 114, 107, and 125 bythe binary pump address signals for transmitting and storing each costpulse and each memory clear signal received from each pump interlockcircuit 12 via the pulse scanner 114 and memory clear scanner 107. Moreparticularly during each pump pulse interval any generated cost pulsefrom the corresponding pump is transmitted through the scanner 114, andthen via a gate 202 during the succeeding TP-2 timing pulse of the D-1digit pulse to temporarily set a flip-flop 204. The flip-flop 204thereupon transmits a cost pulse signal via a gate 205 and either an Amemory gate 206 or a B memory gate 207 as an input pulse to therespective memory circuit 36 or 38. The cost pulse signal is alsowritten into the corresponding memory digit by the immediately followingTP-6 timing pulse, and the flipflop 204 is then reset by the immediatelyfollowing timing pulse TP-7. The pulse duration of each cost pulsetransmitted to the scanner 114 is substantially longer than a completescanner cycle such that each cost pulse is operative to set theflip-flop 204 several times during several successive cycles of thescanner 114. However, an output cost pulse signal is transmitted to theappropriate memory circuit 36 or 38 (at timing pulse TP-4 of digit pulseD-l) only once because the stored cost pulse signal in the correspondingmemory digit is thereafter operative to make the control gate 205nonconductive. After the cost pulse signal applied to the scanner 114terminates, the corresponding memory digit is cleared by the TP-6 writepulse to permit a succeeding cost pulse to be transmitted through thecontrol gate 205. A memory clear signal transmitted to the clear scanneris similarly analyzed and transmitted via identically numbered circuitryto set a flip-flop 210 which transmits an output memory clear signal viaeither an A memory gate 212 or a B memory gate 214 to the appropriatememory circuit 36 or 38. The output memory clear signal is applied tothe appropriate memory circuit during the interval between the TP-4timing pulse of the D-1 digit pulse and the TP-7 timing pulse of D-6digit pulse for fully resetting the five corresponding pump digits ofthe memory circuit whereupon the flip-flop 210 is reset via a gate 218.

The memory select signal from each pump interlock circuit 12 istransmitted during the corresponding pump pulse via the memory selectscanner for timely operating the A memory gates 206, 212 or the B memorygates 207, 214. Thus, with the first control flip-flop 122 of the pumpinterlock circuit 12 in a cleared or reset condition, the A memory gates206, 212 will be effective to transmit the clear signal to the A memorycircuit 36 (for clearing the corresponding five-digit pump memorysection of the memory 34) and then transmit succeeding cost pulses tothe A memory circuit 36 for accumulating the cost amount of thesucceeding fuel delivery. If the first control flip-flop 122 is in itsset conditionn, the clear signal and succeeding cost pulses aretransmitted to the B memory circuit 38 for similarly clearing thecorresponding pump memory section and accumulating the cost amount ofthe succeeding fuel delivery in the B memory circuit 38.

A bank of gates 217-219 are also timely operated by corresponding gradepulses to transmit the cost pulse signals from the gate 205 to costdivision circuits 232-234 for the three available grades. Each divisioncircuit 232-234 transmits an output pulse for each one hundred inputpulses (and accordingly are in effect one dollar pulses) via a gate 236to the totalizer circuit 190.

The cost pulse signals for each pump are transmitted to the selectedmemory circuit for accumulation of the cost amount of fuel deliveredfrom the pump. The memories 34 are addressed in synchronism with thecorresponding cost pulse trains such that the corresponding five-digitmemory section of the selected memory 34 will accumulate the cost (up toa maximum of $999.99) of the fuel delivered. More particularly, the costpulses are supplied to a gate 250 of the selected memory circuit 36, 38to add a count of one to a BCD counter 252 which has been preset (withtiming pulse TP-2 of digit pulse D-l) with the existing digit count ofthe first digit of the accumulated cost. The count of the counter 252(i.e., the prior digit count plus one) is then written into the firstdigit by timing pulse TP-7. Any carry signal from the digit count isadded to the succeeding digit. The carry signal from the BCD counter 252initially sets a flip-flop 253 which then transmits the carry signal viaa gate 254 to a second flip-flop 256 at the TP-2 timing pulse of thefollowing timing pulse cycle whereupon the first flip-flop 253 is reset.The carry signal is then transmitted from the flipflop 256 via a gate258 and the gate 250 to the counter 252 at timing pulse TP-6. The countin the counter 252 is then stored in the memory digit. Thus, eachfive-digit pump memory section of the memory 34 accumulates the totalcost of fuel delivered by the corresponding pump to two decimal places.The five-digit memory 'section for a given pump is selectively clearedby the clear signal transmitted via the gate 212 or 214, as previouslyexplained, upon the commencement of each fuel delivery.

The totalizer circuit comprises an 18-digit memory 192 for storing thetotal cost amount in dollars of I each available fuel grade delivered bythe delivery system. The one dollar cost pulses transmitted via the gate236 to the totalizer circuit 190 are handled-in exactly the same manneras the l-cent cost pulses are handled in the A and B memory circuits 36,38--to accumulate the total cost delivered of the three grades of fueland in the respective six-digit memory sections of the memory 192. Thememory 192 is addressed by a memory address circuit 270 which isinitially set, during each pump pulse, by the respective grade pulse andis then sequentially stepped by the succeeding TP-8 timing pulses.

The totalizer circuit memory 192 may be manually reset, for example, atthe end of the day or at the end of each 8 hour shift after the volumeand cost totals are suitably recorded as described, for which purpose asuitable manual reset button 280 is connected to the memory 192 forclearing the memory 192. The reset button 280 is also connected forsimultaneously clearing the division circuits 232-234.

The accumulated cost amount of each fuel delivery from each pump can beselectively registered on the display register 16 merely by depressingthe corresponding pump selector button 44 and depressing the appropriatememory select button 133, l35'for that delivery. (As the cost amounts oftwo separate fuel deliveries can be stored in the separate memorycircuits 36, 38, the desired delivery cost data can be displayed bydepressing the memory select button 133, 135 for the appropriate memorycircuit.) The memory select buttons I33, 135 are connected, via controlgates 296, 298 respectively, to a bank of A memory data control gates300 and a bank of B memory data control gates 302 for selectivelyconnecting the BCD memory outputs via a cost data bus 306 and acost/volume selector 308 to BCD digit storage registers 310 of thedisplay register 16. The BCD digit registers 310 are sequentially loadedvia gates 314 by the digit pulses D-l through D-6 of the selected pumppulse. Decoder driver circuits 320 provide for operating digit displayregisters 322 in accordance with the BCD outputs of the digit storageregisters 310 such that the accumulated cost for the selected pumpdelivery is displayed by the display registers 322. The displayregisters may, for example be 7- bar, FIG. 8 type display tubesmanufactured by Radio Corporation Of America under the trademark NUMl-TRON.

A decimal point driver 326 is provided for energizing the decimal point328 of the second order digit display 322 such that the register 16 willproperly display the cost amount of the delivery to two decimal places.Also, as the cost is only accumulated to five places in the memories 34,the sixth or highest order digit display 322 is held deenergized orblanked by a signal from an inverter 330 applied to the sixth placedecoder driver 320. The fifth or next highest order digit displaydecoder driver 320 may also be similarly connected as shown in dottedlines where a four place cost display (i.e., providing a maximum costdisplay of $99.99) is sufficient.

The volume amount of the selected fuel delivery (which corresponds tothe selected cost amount) may be selectively registered with theregister 16 by additionally depressing and holding depressed a volumeselect button 340. The volume select button 340 is conand load thevolume computer 350. The clear and load pulse so generated istransmitted via a control gate 354 to (a) clear six BCD decade counters360 of a volume counting section 362, (b) clear a simulated costcomputer 364 and (c) reset three price control flip-flops 365-367 of thecost computer 364. At the same time, the selected BCD cost datatransmitted via the cost data bus 306 is sequentially loaded into thefirst five place BCD cost registers 370 by means of the digit pulses D1through D5 applied to the registers via the control gates 372. Thehighest order register 370 is maintained disconnected from the cost databus 306 by a bank 374 of control gates when computing the volume amountof an individual delivery and, therefore, when a six place storageregister is not required. Thus, in effect, the highest place register370 is then set at binary zero.

The clear and load signal also operates a suitable delay circuit 378which, after the volume computer 350 is cleared and the registers 370are loaded, generates a control signal for making the gate 354nonconductive and for making a gate 382 conductive for supplying clockpulses (which function as simulated volume pulses) via a second controlgate 384 to the simulated cost computer 364. The cost computer may, forexample be like that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,696,236 of Crawford M.Kus entitled Computing Device and dated Oct. 3,1972. As more fullydescribed in the U.S. Pat. No. 3,696,236, a bank 390 of three BCD priceswitches 392 is provided for each of the three available grades of fuel.Each switch bank 390 is preset in accordance with the preestablishedunit volume price for the corresponding grade. The switch banks 390 areselectively activated by the application of the clear and load timingpulse and grade timing pulses to the control gates 395-397 which thentransmits a pulse for setting one of the flip-flops 365-367 inaccordance with the preset fuel grade for the depressed selector button44 for activating the corresponding price switch bank 390.

The simulated volume pulses passing through the control gate 384 aresupplied to the lowest order BCD decade counter 360 of the volumecounting section 362 to accumulate a volume count in the volume countingsection 362. At the same time, the simulated volume pulses are suppliedto the cost computer 364 to accumulate a cost count in a six place BCDcost accumulator 400 of the computer 364. A suitable comparator circuit402 is connected to the BCD readout leads of the cost registers 370 andto the BCD readout leads of the cost accumulator decades 404 such thatwhen the accumulated cost in the accumulator 400 equals the preset costin the registers 370, the comparator operates the control gate 384 toterminate the supply of simulated volume pulses to the cost computer 364and volume accumulator 362. Accordingly, the volume amount accumulatedin the volume accumulator 362 exactly corresponds to the cost amount ofthe selected fuel delivery stored in memory in accordance with thepreestablished unit volume price of the fuel grade. The accumulatedvolume amount is continuously transmitted via banks 410 of digit pulsecontrolled gates 412 and the cost/volume selector 308 to the displayregister 16 for displaying the computed volume of the selected fueldelivery.

A totalizer display button 420 and individual fuel grade buttons 421-423are provided for selectively registering, with the display register 16,the total accumulated cost of each grade of fuel delivered. When thetotalizer display button 420 is depressed, the gates 296, 298 arethereupon operated to disconnect the memory select buttons 133, 135 fromthe corresponding banks 300, 302 of data control gates. Also. theblanking circuit to the display register 16 is deenergized and thedecimal point driver 326 is operated to deenergize the second placedecimal point 328. (A first place decimal point could be connected asshown in broken lines to be energized to register the total cost amountof the first decimal place, in which event, the division circuits232-234 would be divide by ten circuits rather than divide by onehundred circuits as shown.) The individual grade buttons 421-423 aresuitably mechanically interlocked so that only one button can bedepressed at a time. The depressed button supplies a grade timing pulsevia a control gate 425 to a bank 427 of BCD data control gates tosequentially supply the digital totalizer cost data for the selectedgrade via selector 308 to the display register 16 where it is thendisplayed (up to a maximum of $999,999).

The total volume amount corresponding to the selected cost amount storedin the memory can be selectively registered with the display register 16by additionally depressing and holding depressed the'volume selectbutton 340. Thereupon, the totalizer cost data for the selected grade istransmitted to the volume computer 350 which then computes thecorresponding volume amount in accordance with the transmitted totalcost amount and the unit volume price of the selected grade of fuel. Inthis latter regard, the appropriate price control flip-flop 365-367 isset via the corresponding gate 395-397 by the grade timing pulsetransmitted thereto from the depressed grade push button 421-423. Thetotalizer volume computed in the volume computer 350 is transmitted tothe display register 16 for registration with the six register digits322 (up to a minimum of 999,999 gallons).

As will be apparent to persons skilled in the art. variousmodifications. adaptations and variations of the foregoing specificdisclosure can be made without departing from the teachings of thepresent invention.

I claim:

1. A multiple delivery station fluid delivery registration system forstoring and registering the separate fluid deliveries at a plurality ofdelivery stations and for selectively controlling each delivery stationfor delivering fluid comprising pulse generating means associated witheach fluid delivery station for generating a pulse for eachpredetermined incremental amount of fluid delivered at the respectivedelivery station, electronic storage memory circuit means having aplurality of separate electronic storage memory sections for eachdelivery station for separately accumulating and storing the amount ofeach of a corresponding plurality of separate fluid deliveries at therespective delivery station, storage control means for operating thestorage memory circuit means for separately accumulating and storing theamount of each of said corresponding plurality of separate fluiddeliveries at each delivery station in the corresponding plurality ofstorage memory sections and in accordance with the number of pulsesgenerated by the respective pulse generating means during the respectivefluid deliveries, first manually operable delivery control meansmanually operable for selectively activating each delivery station formaking a single fluid delivery and separately selectively manuallyoperable for each delivery station for selectively operating the storagecontrol means for individually conditioning each corresponding storagememory section for accumulating and storing a subsequent delivery offluid from the respective delivery station, the first manually operablemeans comprising interlock circuit means preventing activation of adelivery station unless at least one of the corresponding memorysections is conditioned for accumulating and storing a subsequentdelivery of fluid from the delivery station, register means forindividually registering the amount of each fluid delivery from eachdelivery station stored in the corresponding storagememory sections ofthe memory circuit means, and second manually operable register controlmeans for selectively operating the register means with the storagememory circuit means for selectively individually registering with theregister means the amount of each de'livery stored in the storage memorycircuit means.

2. A multiple delivery station fluid delivery registration systemaccording to claim 1 wherein the storage memory circuit means comprisesa plurality of separate storage memory circuits each having a saidstorage memory section for each delivery station adapted to be operatedby the storage control means for accumulating and storing a singledelivery at the respective delivery station, and wherein the storagecontrol means is independently operable for each delivery station fluiddelivery for operating a selected storage memory circuit foraccumulating and storing the amount of the fluid delivery at thedelivery station.

3. A multiple delivery station fluid delivery registration systemaccording to claim 2 wherein each storage memory circuit comprises amemory with a plurality of memory sections for accumulating and storingfluid delivery amounts at-the plurality of delivery stations'respectively and adapted to be addressed for individually addressingthe memory sections, wherein the storage control means comprises memorycircuit select means for each delivery station for generating a memoryselect signal for selecting the memory circuit into which the amount ofthe delivery at the station is to be accumulated and stored,- andmultiplexing means for sequentially addressing the memory sections ofthe memory circuits in a predetermined order and sequentially scanningthe respective memory circuit select means and pulse generating means insynchronism therewith for accumulating and storing the amount of a fluiddelivery at each delivery station in a corresponding memory section of amemory circuit selected by the select signal of the respective memoryselect means.

4. A multiple delivery station fluid delivery registration systemaccording to claim 1 wherein the first manually operable means comprisesmanually operable clear means for selectively clearing the amount ofeach fluid delivery stored in the storage memory circuit means.

5. A multiple delivery station fluid delivery registration systemaccording to claim 4 wherein the manually operable clear means comprisesclearing means for each delivery station adapted to be selectively setfor clearing the stored amount of a selected fluid delivery at thedelivery station at the commencement of a succeeding delivery at thedelivery station, and manually operable clear select means forselectively setting the clearing means for each station.

6. A multiple delivery station fluid delivery registration systemaccording to claim 1 wherein the storage control means comprisesseparate storage control means for each delivery station having separateauthorization circuit means for conditioning the respective deliverystation for delivering fluid and memory circuit select means forindividually selecting the respective plurality of separate memorysections into which the amount of the succeeding delivery at the stationis to be accumulated and stored, wherein the first manually operablemeans comprises memory clear means for indivdually clearing the storagememory sections, and wherein each memory circuit select means isoperable for automatically selecting a respective storage memory sectioncleared by the manual clear means and for deactivating the respectiveauthorization circuit means for conditioning the respective deliverystation for delivering fluid if the clear means hasnt been operated toclear any of the respective memory sections.

7. A multiple delivery station fluid delivery registration system forstoring and registering the fluid deliveries at a plurality of deliverystations comprising pulse generating means associated with each fluiddelivery station for generating a cost pulse for each predeterminedincremental cost amount of fluid delivered at the station. electronicstorage memory circuit means having a plurality of electronicaccumulator sections for separately accumulating the cost amounts offluid delivered at the delivery stations, respectively, presettableprice volume computer means for computing the volume amount ofa selectedfluid delivery stored in the accumulating means in accordance with thestored cost amount of the fluid delivery and a unit volume price for thecorresponding fluid delivery station pre-established by the setting ofthe volume computer means, register means operable for registering thecost and volume amounts of each fluid delivery, and manually operableregister control means for individlually selecting the electronicaccumulator sections for selecting a fluid delivery stored in theaccumulating means and for operating the register for registering thecost amount of the fluiddelivery stored in the selected accumulatorsection. of the accumulating means and for additionally operating thevolume computer means to compute the corresponding volume amount of theselected fluid delivery in accordance with the accumulated cost amountof the fluid delivery stored in the selected accumulator section and thepre-established unit volume price for the corresponding fluid deliverystation and operate the register to register the computed volume amountcomputed by the volume computer means.

8. A multiple delivery station fluid delivery registration systemaccording to claim 7 wherein the register means is operable foralternatively registering the cost and volume amounts of a selectedfluid delivery and wherein the register control means is manuallyoperable for alternatively operating the register means to register thecost amount of the selected fluid delivery stored in the accumulatingmeans and operating the volume computer means to compute thecorresponding volume amount of the selected fluid delivery and operatethe register to register the volume amount computed by the volumecomputer means.

9. A multiple delivery station fluid delivery registration systemaccording to claim 7 for a plurality of delivery stations adapted todeliver a plurality of different fluid products having respectivepreestablished unit volume prices, wherein the presettable volumecomputer means comprises unit volume price input means for each of thefluid products presettable for preestablishing the unit volume price ofthe respective fluid product, and price selection means for selectivelyactivating the price input means for computing the volume amount of eachselected fluid delivery in accordance with the unit volume pricepreestablished for the respective product.

10. A multiple delivery station fluid delivery registration systemaccording to claim 9 wherein the registration system comprisessynchronizing means for repetitively generating a series of a pluralityof sequential timing pulses for the plurality of delivery stationsrespectively and for generating respective product pulses for therespective products respectively in synchronism therewith and whereinthe price selection means is operable by the timing pulse for theselected delivery station and the respective product pulse forselectively activating the respective price input means.

11. A fluid delivery registration system for storing and registering theamounts of the fluid deliveries at a plurality of fluid deliverystations which are operable to deliver a plurality of different fluidproducts with respective pre-established unit volume prices, comprisingpulse generating means associated with each fluid delivery station forgenerating a pulse for each predetermined incremental amount of fluiddelivered at the station, first electronic storage memory circuit meansadapted to be pulsed for separately accumulating and storing the amountof each fluid delivery at each delivery station, second electronictotalizer storage memory circuit means adapted to be pulsed forseparately accumulating and storing the total amount of each fluidproduct delivered by all of the delivery stations, storage memorycontrol means comprising timing means for repetitively generating aseries of sequential station timing pulses and respective product timingpulses in synchronism therewith and multiplexing means operable by thestation timing pulses for transmitting generated pulses from eachstation pulse generating means to the first storage memory circuit meansfor separately accumulating and storing the amounts of the fluiddeliveries at the delivery stations and simultaneously operable by therespective product timing pulses for transmitting the generated pulsesfrom the pulse generating means to the totalizer memory circuit meansfor separately accumulating and storing the total amounts of each fluidproduct, register means for registering the amount of each deliverystored in the first storage memory circuit means and the toal amount ofeach fluid product stored in the totalizer storage memory circuit means,and manually operable register control means for selectivelyindividually registering with the register means the amount of eachindividual fluid delivery stored in the first storage memory circuitmeans and the total amount of each fluid product stored in the totalizermemory circuit means.

12. A fluid delivery registration system according to claim 11 whereinthe first electronic storage memory circuit means comprises anindividual electronic delivery memory section for each station having afixed plurality of memory digits of ascending order for accumulating andstoring the amount of an individual delivery at the station, wherein theelectronic totalizer storage memory circuit means comprises anindividual electronic totalizer memory section for each product hav- 14comprises blanking means for automatically blanking the highest orderdigits in excess of the number of digits of the individual deliverymemory sections when the register means is operated for registering theamount of an individual fluid delivery.

1. A multiple delivery station fluid delivery registration system forstoring and registering the separate fluid deliveries at a plurality ofdelivery stations and for selectively controlling each delivery stationfor delivering fluid comprising pulse generating means associated witheach fluid delivery station for generating a pulse for eachpredetermined incremental amount of fluid delivered at the respectivedelivery statiOn, electronic storage memory circuit means having aplurality of separate electronic storage memory sections for eachdelivery station for separately accumulating and storing the amount ofeach of a corresponding plurality of separate fluid deliveries at therespective delivery station, storage control means for operating thestorage memory circuit means for separately accumulating and storing theamount of each of said corresponding plurality of separate fluiddeliveries at each delivery station in the corresponding plurality ofstorage memory sections and in accordance with the number of pulsesgenerated by the respective pulse generating means during the respectivefluid deliveries, first manually operable delivery control meansmanually operable for selectively activating each delivery station formaking a single fluid delivery and separately selectively manuallyoperable for each delivery station for selectively operating the storagecontrol means for individually conditioning each corresponding storagememory section for accumulating and storing a subsequent delivery offluid from the respective delivery station, the first manually operablemeans comprising interlock circuit means preventing activation of adelivery station unless at least one of the corresponding memorysections is conditioned for accumulating and storing a subsequentdelivery of fluid from the delivery station, register means forindividually registering the amount of each fluid delivery from eachdelivery station stored in the corresponding storage memory sections ofthe memory circuit means, and second manually operable register controlmeans for selectively operating the register means with the storagememory circuit means for selectively individually registering with theregister means the amount of each delivery stored in the storage memorycircuit means.
 2. A multiple delivery station fluid deliveryregistration system according to claim 1 wherein the storage memorycircuit means comprises a plurality of separate storage memory circuitseach having a said storage memory section for each delivery stationadapted to be operated by the storage control means for accumulating andstoring a single delivery at the respective delivery station, andwherein the storage control means is independently operable for eachdelivery station fluid delivery for operating a selected storage memorycircuit for accumulating and storing the amount of the fluid delivery atthe delivery station.
 3. A multiple delivery station fluid deliveryregistration system according to claim 2 wherein each storage memorycircuit comprises a memory with a plurality of memory sections foraccumulating and storing fluid delivery amounts at the plurality ofdelivery stations respectively and adapted to be addressed forindividually addressing the memory sections, wherein the storage controlmeans comprises memory circuit select means for each delivery stationfor generating a memory select signal for selecting the memory circuitinto which the amount of the delivery at the station is to beaccumulated and stored, and multiplexing means for sequentiallyaddressing the memory sections of the memory circuits in a predeterminedorder and sequentially scanning the respective memory circuit selectmeans and pulse generating means in synchronism therewith foraccumulating and storing the amount of a fluid delivery at each deliverystation in a corresponding memory section of a memory circuit selectedby the select signal of the respective memory select means.
 4. Amultiple delivery station fluid delivery registration system accordingto claim 1 wherein the first manually operable means comprises manuallyoperable clear means for selectively clearing the amount of each fluiddelivery stored in the storage memory circuit means.
 5. A multipledelivery station fluid delivery registration system according to claim 4wherein the manually operable clear means comprises clearing means foreach delivery station adapted to be selectively set for clearing thestored amount of a selected fluid delivery at the delivery station atthe commencement of a succeeding delivery at the delivery station, andmanually operable clear select means for selectively setting theclearing means for each station.
 6. A multiple delivery station fluiddelivery registration system according to claim 1 wherein the storagecontrol means comprises separate storage control means for each deliverystation having separate authorization circuit means for conditioning therespective delivery station for delivering fluid and memory circuitselect means for individually selecting the respective plurality ofseparate memory sections into which the amount of the succeedingdelivery at the station is to be accumulated and stored, wherein thefirst manually operable means comprises memory clear means forindivdually clearing the storage memory sections, and wherein eachmemory circuit select means is operable for automatically selecting arespective storage memory section cleared by the manual clear means andfor deactivating the respective authorization circuit means forconditioning the respective delivery station for delivering fluid if theclear means hasn''t been operated to clear any of the respective memorysections.
 7. A multiple delivery station fluid delivery registrationsystem for storing and registering the fluid deliveries at a pluralityof delivery stations comprising pulse generating means associated witheach fluid delivery station for generating a cost pulse for eachpredetermined incremental cost amount of fluid delivered at the station,electronic storage memory circuit means having a plurality of electronicaccumulator sections for separately accumulating the cost amounts offluid delivered at the delivery stations, respectively, presettableprice volume computer means for computing the volume amount of aselected fluid delivery stored in the accumulating means in accordancewith the stored cost amount of the fluid delivery and a unit volumeprice for the corresponding fluid delivery station pre-established bythe setting of the volume computer means, register means operable forregistering the cost and volume amounts of each fluid delivery, andmanually operable register control means for individlually selecting theelectronic accumulator sections for selecting a fluid delivery stored inthe accumulating means and for operating the register for registeringthe cost amount of the fluid delivery stored in the selected accumulatorsection of the accumulating means and for additionally operating thevolume computer means to compute the corresponding volume amount of theselected fluid delivery in accordance with the accumulated cost amountof the fluid delivery stored in the selected accumulator section and thepre-established unit volume price for the corresponding fluid deliverystation and operate the register to register the computed volume amountcomputed by the volume computer means.
 8. A multiple delivery stationfluid delivery registration system according to claim 7 wherein theregister means is operable for alternatively registering the cost andvolume amounts of a selected fluid delivery and wherein the registercontrol means is manually operable for alternatively operating theregister means to register the cost amount of the selected fluiddelivery stored in the accumulating means and operating the volumecomputer means to compute the corresponding volume amount of theselected fluid delivery and operate the register to register the volumeamount computed by the volume computer means.
 9. A multiple deliverystation fluid delivery registration system according to claim 7 for aplurality of delivery stations adapted to deliver a plurality ofdifferent fluid products having respective preestablished unit volumeprices, wherein the presettable volume computer means comprises unitvolume price input means for each of the fluid products presettable forpreestablishing the unit volume pricE of the respective fluid product,and price selection means for selectively activating the price inputmeans for computing the volume amount of each selected fluid delivery inaccordance with the unit volume price preestablished for the respectiveproduct.
 10. A multiple delivery station fluid delivery registrationsystem according to claim 9 wherein the registration system comprisessynchronizing means for repetitively generating a series of a pluralityof sequential timing pulses for the plurality of delivery stationsrespectively and for generating respective product pulses for therespective products respectively in synchronism therewith and whereinthe price selection means is operable by the timing pulse for theselected delivery station and the respective product pulse forselectively activating the respective price input means.
 11. A fluiddelivery registration system for storing and registering the amounts ofthe fluid deliveries at a plurality of fluid delivery stations which areoperable to deliver a plurality of different fluid products withrespective pre-established unit volume prices, comprising pulsegenerating means associated with each fluid delivery station forgenerating a pulse for each predetermined incremental amount of fluiddelivered at the station, first electronic storage memory circuit meansadapted to be pulsed for separately accumulating and storing the amountof each fluid delivery at each delivery station, second electronictotalizer storage memory circuit means adapted to be pulsed forseparately accumulating and storing the total amount of each fluidproduct delivered by all of the delivery stations, storage memorycontrol means comprising timing means for repetitively generating aseries of sequential station timing pulses and respective product timingpulses in synchronism therewith and multiplexing means operable by thestation timing pulses for transmitting generated pulses from eachstation pulse generating means to the first storage memory circuit meansfor separately accumulating and storing the amounts of the fluiddeliveries at the delivery stations and simultaneously operable by therespective product timing pulses for transmitting the generated pulsesfrom the pulse generating means to the totalizer memory circuit meansfor separately accumulating and storing the total amounts of each fluidproduct, register means for registering the amount of each deliverystored in the first storage memory circuit means and the toal amount ofeach fluid product stored in the totalizer storage memory circuit means,and manually operable register control means for selectivelyindividually registering with the register means the amount of eachindividual fluid delivery stored in the first storage memory circuitmeans and the total amount of each fluid product stored in the totalizermemory circuit means.
 12. A fluid delivery registration system accordingto claim 11 wherein the first electronic storage memory circuit meanscomprises an individual electronic delivery memory section for eachstation having a fixed plurality of memory digits of ascending order foraccumulating and storing the amount of an individual delivery at thestation, wherein the electronic totalizer storage memory circuit meanscomprises an individual electronic totalizer memory section for eachproduct having a fixed plurality of totalizer memory digits of ascendingorder for accumulating and storing a totalizer amount of the product andhaving more digits than the fixed plurality of digits of the individualmemory sections, the register means having a plurality of registerdigits at least equal to the plurality of totalizer memory sectiondigits, and wherein the register control means comprises blanking meansfor automatically blanking the highest order digits in excess of thenumber of digits of the individual delivery memory sections when theregister means is operated for registering the amount of an individualfluid delivery.